H.I.G. sells Constructive Media to Sandbox & Co.

H.I.G. Capital is selling digital education platform Constructive Media, LLC to Sandbox & Co. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Digital Capital Advisors Managing Director Elgin Thompson led the transaction.

Press Release

Digital Capital Advisors, a premier global investment bank dedicated to serving innovative digital media and technology companies through sell-side and buy-side M&A, announces the sale of Constructive Media, LLC (“CM” or the “Company”), a portfolio company of H.I.G. Capital (“H.I.G.”), to Sandbox & Co (“Sandbox”) on behalf of Figjam Group Ltd. The transaction was led by Elgin Thompson, Managing Director at Digital Capital Advisors.

Established over 20 years ago, CM is one of the largest digital media platforms at the intersection of education and casual gaming through its properties CoolmathGames.com, Coolmath4Kids.com and Coolmath.com. The Company has curated and developed a large selection of highly entertaining thinking games across a range of genres and age groups for desktop and mobile. With its unique mix of “edutainment” content, CM has become one of the most trusted and popular brands on the internet with over 400 million users across the globe. As part of the transaction, CM will join the growing network of Sandbox properties which includes Poptropica, CuriousWorld, Tinybop, Hopster, Family Education, TeacherVision, Super Awesome, StoryArc Media, Fact Monster, InfoPlease and Funbrain.

“With the support of H.I.G., CM has built one of the largest, most recognized digital brands in the educational gaming space,” said Elgin Thompson, Managing Director at Digital Capital Advisors. “We continue to see a robust M&A environment for scaled, unique assets at the intersection of learning, entertainment and technology. The synergistic fit with Sandbox is quite compelling and exciting for general audiences on a global basis.”

Greg Barlow, CM’s CEO, said, “We have enjoyed partnering with H.I.G. over the past few years. Our team has valued the continued support and leadership provided throughout our partnership as we worked to achieve our goals and growth initiatives. We are excited to join Sandbox and its portfolio of complementary companies.”

“Sandbox is focused on products and solutions that super-serve millennial families and the way they learn. Coolmath Games is a market-leading property that fits our mission”, said Bhav Singh, Founder and CEO of Sandbox. “CM products are enjoyed by audiences across North America and provide us with a sizable reach in this very strategic market.” Prior to founding Sandbox, Singh led high growth divisions with media giant Viacom, scaling their emerging markets business, and subsequently as the CEO of Pearson English and informal learning at Pearson PLC.

About Constructive Media

Headquartered in New York City, Constructive Media was founded in the late 1990’s to offer a new way to discover and enjoy math. The Company has expanded considerably since then and continues to create new products on new topics across all digital platforms – mobile, app, web, and anywhere else its audience strives to learn and play. Constructive Media serves a global audience of students, casual gamers, and avid learners through its digital media platforms. For more information, please refer to the Constructive Media website at www.constructivemedia.com.

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. is a leading global private equity and alternative assets investment firm with $30 billion of equity capital under management*. Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogotá, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach:

1. H.I.G.’s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses.

2. H.I.G.’s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance.

3. H.I.G.’s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm’s current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com.

* Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.

About Sandbox & Co

Founded by media and learning expert Bhav Singh, Sandbox is a London-based millennial education company with engaging online products and services that make learning fun. At the intersection of the digital, learning & media industries, Sandbox brands embrace technological advancements, focus on globally relevant core subjects that center on families’ interests and help develop 21st century skills.

Sandbox represents and strategically operates Figjam Group Ltd. controlled and invested entities – a suite of 10 brands, most of which are leaders in their own segment and have won several awards. Portfolio companies include Poptropica, CuriousWorld, Tinybop, Hopster, Family Education, TeacherVision, Super Awesome, StoryArc Media, Fact Monster, InfoPlease and Funbrain. Sandbox is committed to providing an unparalleled ecosystem of edutainment products, and currently reach over 20 million children, their millennial parents and teachers. For more information, please refer to the Sandbox & Co website at www.sandboxandco.com.

About Digital Capital Advisors

Digital Capital Advisors is the premier global investment bank dedicated to serving innovative digital media and technology companies through sell-side and buy-side M&A. DCA’s global perspective is fostered by the unique composition of its team – CEOs, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and world-class investment bankers who have helped shape the technology landscape. With offices in New York City, San Francisco and Berlin, DCA specializes in cross-border transactions and has unlocked maximum value for clients on deals spanning twenty countries around the world. Its unparalleled operational DNA, global reach, and exclusive focus in the digital ecosystem further enhance its expertise and unify DCA’s professionals with their clients. For more information, please refer to the Digital Capital Advisors’ website at www.digitalcapitaladvisors.com.

Source: https://www.pehub.com/2018/11/h-i-g-sells-constructive-media-to-sandbox-co/

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